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Aikido Journal has reported that Yoshio Kuroiwa sensei of Tokyo, Japan, passed away on January 19th at the age of 77.

From the article: "He was one of the early members of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo of the postwar era. Kuroiwa Sensei began aikido training about 1954 after an extensive background in boxing. In the late 1950s and 60s Kuroiwa Sensei was considered one of the strongest and most skilled practitioners at the Hombu Dojo."

Profound condolences to the Kuroiwa family, and to all his faithful students and peers. The Aikido world has truly lost one of it giants, not only in proven ability, but in the example he consistently set as a true gentleman of Aiki.

His reservoir of kindness and consideration knew no limits, and his personality made you feel special in his presence.

The time he took to counsel me at a Colorado summer camp literally changed my thinking and image of myself for the better.

Really sad to hear this, I was only talking to Ikeda sensei in France last year about him. Ikeda sensei's comment went something along the line of 'he had awesome koshinage, the best!' can't argue with that, very sadly I never got the chance to train with him in person.

I had the good fortune to meet Sensei Kuroiwa several times during his visits to the U.S. and I took all the classes I could. He had an amazing perspective on Aikido. He was also one of the nicest and most un-assuming people I have ever met.

I remember one time at Summer Camp in Boulder when he came into this vast gymnasium to teach a class. There were probably a hundred people lined up in formal seiza waiting to train. Most of the other instructors would walk impressively to the center of the mat to bow us in. I could tell by the reluctant look on Sensei's face that this was way too big a deal for him. So he simply walked to the edge of the mat nearest the entrance, did a seated bow and started showing stuff to the people nearby. The rest of the befuddled group had to quickly surge to the corner of the room so as not to miss the lesson.

Although I only knew him as one student in big crowd of other U.S. students, I can't help but remember him with real fondness.